Beethoven

Assessment

Learning outcome 1: listening

The learner will be able to listen for information and enjoyment, and respond appropriately and critically in a wider range of situations.

Assessment standard

We know this when the learner:

1.1 understands stories (told or read to learners):

1.1.1 answers literal questions.

1.1.4 discusses ethical and social issues, code switching if necessary;

• retells the story in the right sequence.

Learning outcome 2: speaking

The learner will be able to communicate effectively in spoken language in a wide range of situations.

Assessment standard

We know this when the learner:

• uses additional language to communicate information:

2.3.3 describes people, objects and simple processes.

Memorandum

Read the following passage, twice to your learners.

Explain words that they do not know and give special attention to metaphorical language e.g. “rules …set in stone” / brooding eyes/ fiery nature.

Give some background information concerning composing and publishing music, and also what it was like to be a musician in Europe at that time (most were poor, needed a patron, etc.)

Vocabulary: Use some of the words to expand their vocabulary. Explain the words and place/use them in context (in sentences).

Find some of Beethoven’s most well known music and play it in class. Encourage an interest in music other than the kind they listen to most.

Answers: 1. T; F; T; T; F; F; T; F; F; T; F; T

1. Use your discretion to assess the learner’s ability.

Many years ago, there was a very talented young boy called Ludwig van Beethoven. He was born in the city of Bonn in Germany in 1770. His father, who was a musician, was a very violent man. He often came home drunk, and would pull Ludwig out of bed at all hours and beat music lessons into the sleepy boy’s head, or force him to play music for his drunk friends.

One would think that this would make Ludwig hate music, but it didn’t. Instead, he loved it more each day. Because he was so good at music, he studied with other teachers besides his father and he soon became quite famous. He was only nine years old when one of his first pieces was published.

It wasn’t only his wonderful talent that made people notice him; he also looked quite unusual with his wild hair and brooding eyes. In Europe, at the time, there was no better pianist. Audiences loved his brilliant performances.

Besides giving concerts in the great cities in Europe, he wrote music day and night. He made enough money to be his own boss, unlike many other musicians of his time.

However, when he was 31 years old, he was faced by what seemed to be the greatest tragedy that could happen to a musician: he realised that he was becoming deaf! For a composer and pianist as great as Beethoven, this was almost a death sentence! However, true to his fiery and determined nature, he saw it as a challenge to be overcome, and he wrote to a friend: “It will not conquer me! Oh, how beautiful it is to live!”

Beethoven wrote some of his most beautiful and famous works late in his life, when he was already quite deaf.

He changed classical music by breaking many rules, which had been set in stone for centuries. To this day, he influences composers. His music is the most powerful and important body of work put together by one compo Activity 2

Make sure that learners understand what it is. Class participation must be optimised. Suggest that they bring music or pictures or anecdotes about the songs that they hear at home from older generation. Explain the concept “down the generations”. Listen to some folk music. The history of slavery could be incorporated here, and class should listen to blues and jazz for an understanding of how it originated. Try to bring instruments to school, or pictures, e.g. didgeridoo (Australian aborigine). Link up with other Learning Areas (e.g. History and Geography).

Answers